Holder for positioning and sharpening hypodermic needles



April 3, 1956 E. F. RUGELS 2,740,240

HOLDER FOR POSITIONING AND SHARPENING HYPODERMIC NEEDLES Filed April 14, 1953 MI) '01, I

O v \w IN V EN TOR.

.EDWAED E BUGELS,

A TTOENEY.

HOLDER FOR POSITIONING AND SHARPENING HYPODERMIC NEEDLES Edward F. Rugels, Long Beach, Calif, assignor of onethird to Leroy E. Ridgeway and one-third to William A. Crowe, both of Long Beach, Calif.

Application April 14, 1953, Serial No. 348,695

3 Claims. (Cl. 51-221) This invention has to do with a holder for positioning and sharpening hypodermic needles and it is a general object of the invention to provide a mechanism operable to securely and advantageously hold a hypodermic needle for operation or manipulation relative to an abrasive stone, or the like, in order to effect sharpening of the needle.

Hypoderrnic needles as supplied for use are sharpened, that is, they are provided with a tip end cut at an angle or beveled and dressed so that they are sharp and free of burrs. Such needles are suitable for 2. limited amount of service, however, they become dull with use and thus require replacement or sharpening. The usual hypodermic needle can be effectively or advantageously sharpened by means of a fine abrasive member or stone, however, persons entrusted to sharpen a needle are not always so trained or skilled as to be able to gain the desired results.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a device or mechanism in the nature of a hypodermic needle holder and which is such as to be readily operable to receive and hold a hypodermic needle with the tip end thereof so positioned as to be readily and properly sharpened when the holder is manipulated in a simple manner relative to a sharpening stone, or the like.

.Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character mentioned, that is readily serviceable to hold a needle for sharpening of the flat beveled end face thereof, and also for dressing of side edges occurring adjacent that face at the forward portion of the needle.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the general character referred to including a clamping means operable to effectively and dependably hold a needle in the structure against movement or shifting in the course of the sharpening operation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a structure of the general character referred to including means serviceable to establish a given positioning of the needle relative to the body of the structure to result in a predetermined dressing or cutting away of the needle as it is worked relative to an abrasive stone or the like.

It is another object of this invention to provide a structure of the general character referred to which is of .a simple inexpensive form and construction, which is of limited size, compact, and such that it can be readily handled properly. t

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of a typical preferred form and application of my invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a View illustrating the structure of the presatentcut invention carrying a typical hypodermicneedle and 2,740,240 Patented Apr. 3, 1956 'ice ting means engaged to establish a desired seat of the needle relative to the body of the device.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 3 being a view as indicated by line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of a needle as sharpened by means of the structure provided by the in vention showing the sharpened end portion in longitudinal section.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the needle shown in Fig. 5 taken as indicated by line 6-6 on Fig. 5 and showing the side edges of the sharpened end portion dressed away.

The structure as provided by the present invention is adapted to handle or hold a hypodermic needle A for the proper positioning and handling or manipulating of such needle relative to the sharpening device such as an abrasive stone B, or the like. In the drawings the stone B is shown as having a flat top face 10 to serve in cutting or sharpening the needle, and the needle A is shown as a simple, conventional, straight, tubular needle with a beveled dressed end face 12 establishing the needle with a sharp point 13. A suitable mounting or fitting 14 is shown on the needle A at the end remote from the point.

The holder as provided by the present invention is characterized by a body C having a fiat bottom 15 and a needle opening 16. The structure further includes a clamp means D related to body C and serviceable to hold or clamp a needle in the body and, if desired, the structure may include a setting means E serviceable to establish a predetermined positioning of the needle relative to the face 15 of body C.

The body C as provided by the present invention is preferably a rigid unit or block of solid material and the bottom face 15 of the body, which is the critical face thereof, is preferably finished so that it is fiat and smooth.

The particular body C illustrated in the drawings is in the form of a block somewhat elongate so that it has vertical side walls 20, vertical end walls 21, and a flat top 22 parallel with the bottom 15.

The needle opening 16 provided in accordance with the present invention is formed in the body C so that it is pitched or inclined relative to the bottom face of the body at which it opens. In the preferred form of the invention the needle opening 16 is formed in body C so that it enters one vertical wall of the body and extends down and in therefrom until it opens at the bottom 15. In the particular case illustrated the needle opening 16 enters the body C at one end wall 21 thereof and extends down and inward in the body to open at the bottom 15 at a point spaced somewhat inward from the other or opposite end wall 21.

The needle opening 16 may in practice be a simple, straight opening of uniform size and shape from one end to the other, however, it is preferred that instead of being of uniform size throughout its length it is formed so that it has a portion X adapted to more or less accurately fit or slidably receive the needle A while a portion Y occurring where the opening enters the end wall 21 of the body is enlarged and is in the nature of a mouth considerably larger than the needle.

In the preferred construction illustrated in the drawing the mouth portion Y of the needle opening is of sub-: stantial size and will accommodate a fitting 14 such as may occur on the needle A, and between the portions X and Y there is a neck portion Z smaller than the mouth portion Y and larger than the needle portion X'and serving to effectively guide the needle into the portion X upon its being inserted into the body by way of the mouth Y. 1

When the needle opening 16 is formed as just described, it is preferred that the bottoms or innermost ends of the mouth and neck be beveled or inclined as shown in 3; the drawings to facilitate guiding of the needle into the portion X which is but slightly larger than the needle.

In accordance with the present invention the. pitch or inclinationofithe; needle opening 16 andparticularly the: portion X thereof relative to the=plan of theibottom v of thebody is a critical factor and in practice-is preferably established so that the acute angle between the; needle openingtand bottom 15 is somewhere'between 15 and 20 degrees.

In-carrying'out the invention the body C may be'provided with more than one needle opening 16 as clearly.

it maybe such as to slidably receive the needle and when this practice is followed different needle-openings inthe body C may be established having different sizes 4 to accommodate needles of different sizes.

The means D provided by the present invention for clamping a needle in the needle opening 16 is preferably a screw means and in the form illustrated includes a screw having an operating head 31 at the exterior of body C and a clamp head 32 in the body and engageable with the needle. In the construction illustrated a cavity 35 is provided in the body C1 intersecting the needlecarrying portion X and a threaded opening 36 enters the body C from the exterior thereof and communicates withthe cavity. In the case illustrated threaded opening 36 enters the body C from the top 22 thereof, the screw 30 is threaded in the opening 36 and the clamp head 32 onthe screw projects into the cavity 35. In the case illustrated the operating head 31 of the'screw' is at the exterior of body C and projects a substantial distance up fromthe top 22 of the body. With the construction just'described, after the needle hasbeen inserted in the opening-portion X and established in the desired position therein the screw 30 can be set or tightened causing the head 32 to engage and clamp'against the needle so that it'will not shift orchange position relative to the body C.

Thesetting means E isa feature of the construction that may be employedif desiredand if the structure is equipped-with the means E this element is located at the end *21 of-body C closest to the pointat whichthe needle opening issues at the bottom 15 of the body. In-accord ance'with theinvention the means E includes a-stop element40-shiftablerelativeto the body C, and inthe-case illustrated this element is pivotally carried by a pivot meniberil'supported by the body C. The stop element 40 has a projecting stop shoulder 43 movable into and out of position where it projects from or below the bottom 15 of bodyv C. In Figs. 1 and 2'of the-drawings the-stop element is shown positioned withthe-stopshoulder'43=out ofroperating position and this position of the element 40- is indicated-in dottedlines in Fig; 4. In Figs. 3 and 4 the stop element is shown in full lines in working position where the stop shoulder 43 projects below: the bottom 15 of'body C. In the drawingsthe structure just described is shown somewhat=exaggerated in order to illustrate its action, that=is, the stop shoulder 43*. when in=operating position appears to project a substantial distance below the bottom 15 of body C whereas in practice the distance that the stop shoulder 43--projectslrnay be limited'to a fewthousandths of an inch.

in the1preferred construction the: stop element 40'is providedj with a handle portion or;-manually engageable projection 45 and the pivot member 41, is, screw threaded to the body C andholdsthe member 40; so that it will not shift relative to the body C unless deliberatelyoperated.

With, the construction; proyidedby thei present; in vention; a user, desiring to sharpen-a needleA, inserts the needle into the needle opening 16 or into the preferred needle opening, assuming that the device has more than one such opening. The needle is inserted until the end face 12 thereof to be sharpened is substantially flush with the bottom 15 and body C but preferably located to project but slightly beyond or below the bottom 15, the amount of projection of the needle from face 15 can be determined by the user, as by the'userfeeling the needle to see that it projects as desired, or the means E canbe employed as shown in Figs. 3 and'4 inwhich case with the body C pitched, relative to a stoneaBzor the like, the needle is inserted'until it engages the-stone whereupon the means D is actuated to set the needle relative to the body.

In any event when the needle ispositioned where desired, whether the means E is employed or not, it is set against movement relative to the body by merely operating screw 3ft so that head 32 clamps against the needle. It means E has been used it is then disengaged ormoved, into positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Withthe'needle, set relative to the body with the face 12 of the'needlc: projecting slightly from the bottom 15 of the: body, the body can be operated relative to the top10'of stone B with resulting dressing of the tip of the needle to sharpen it. If it is desired to further trim or dress theneedle, for instance, to sharpen or cut away the side edges 5001? the pointed end of the needlethe operator can after finishing face lzloosen the means D and rotate the needle in the hole 16 to bring one edge 50 slightly. below face andbottom 15 whereupon means D can be actuated to clamp the needle so that it is held while that edge 50 is dressed. Following dressing. of :'the;set edge Sil v the means D can be releasedand theneedle again rotated bringing the other edge 50 in position'to be dressed.

With the construction provided by the: present invention a person can with very little skill or experience handle a hypodermic needle so that it is with the aidof the body C operated relative to a stone B to effect ac-v curate and proper sharpening of the needle; With the construction provided the needle can be handled without the danger of injuring it and without danger tothe-opera ator. Furthermore, the structure as provided'by the invention is of simple, compact, convenient fornrmaking it easily transported from place to place, and it isof such form as to be very easily handled or manipulated in the course of use.

Having described only a typical preferred form and application of my invention, I do not wish tobe-limted or restricted'to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in theart and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A holder for positioning a-hypodermic needle having an inclined face at its sharpened end including,- a" rigid body having a fiat bottom and a needle hole extending downwardly into the body and opening at the bottom of the body and inclined relative thereto and adapted to guide the needle through the body, means adapted to rigidly hold the needle in the hole against movement relative to the body, and releasable means adapted to'po'sition said end of the needle with its face in apredetermined position below and parallel with the'bottom of the body by" pitching the body relative to a supporting surface while the needle is in the hole andengaged with such support.

2. A-holderfor positioning a hypodermic needle having an inclined face at its sharpenedend including,,a, rigid body withaflat bottom, vertical, side walls and; az.t0p ,.the body having a hole entering it fromone side-andextending; downward and inward inthe bodyand opening at the bottom, the body having a cavity in it intersectingnhe hole; the holebeing adapted to; receive: and. guidethe needle through the body, means adapted to rigidly hold the needle in the hole against movement relative to the body including, a screw threaded in the body from the top thereof and having a clamp head in the cavity adapted to engage and clamp the needle, and releasable means adapted to position said end of the needle with its face in a predetermined position below and parallel with the bottom of the body by pitching the body relative to a supporting surface while the needle is in the hole and engaged with such support.

3. A holder for positioning a hypodermic needle having an inclined face at its sharpened end including, a rigid body with a flat bottom, vertical side walls and a top, the body having a hole entering it from one side and extending downward and inward in the body and opening at the bottom, the body having a cavity in it intersecting the hole, the hole being adapted to receive and guide the needle through the body, and means adapted to rigidly hold the needle in the hole against movement relative to the body including, a screw threaded in the body from the top thereof and having a clamp head in the cavity adapted to engage and clamp the needle, the screw having an operating head at the exterior of the body, and releasable means adapted to position said end of the needle with its face in a predetermined position below and parallel with the bottom of the body by pitching the body relative to a supporting surface while the needle is in the hole and engaged with such support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

